04.08.2026, 11:06 Uhr
Football governing body FIFA has denied media reports saying federation president Gianni Infantino keeps calling United States President Donald Trump to try to save his job amid outrage over plans to sell World Cup rights to private investors.
"The FIFA President has not made any call to the US President, or any members of his administration, in recent days. It is pure fiction," FIFA said on X on Tuesday in reply to a post from The Times newspaper.
On Monday, the New York Post reported, citing sources familiar with the matter, that Infantino sought support from Trump and his administration amid mounting criticism for his now abandoned plan to sell a stake in World Cup commercial rights.
The report said that Infantino had repeatedly tried and failed to reach Trump by phone since the proposal collapsed on Friday, and that the FIFA boss felt "isolated" by an avalanche of negative media coverage.
Trump and Infantino have forged a close relationship, highlighted in December 2025 when Infantino presented Trump with the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize.
Infantino's World Cup sell-off plan was set to be anchored by Thrive Capital, founded by Joshua Kushner, the brother of Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner.
Infantino's bid for another term as FIFA president from 2027 to 2031 is now facing increased scrutiny following the failed deal, with association such as European ruling body UEFA, the English Football Association and the German Football Federation speaking of a loss of trust in the FIFA boss.
Source: Dpa-international.com
